Electric traction.



Nu. 666,258. Patented 1an. 22, |901. n. BRowN. ELECTRIC TRACTION. (Application filed Aug. 21, 1 900.)

2 Sheets-Shea# (No Model.)

WITNSSES.'

wonwns No, 666,258. Patanted Jan. 22, |901, R. B'RWN.

ELEGTBC TRACTIUN.

(Applicasion med Aug. 2r, 19oo.\

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

Anowwsfys UNM Turns ATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT BROWN, OFBIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

ELECTRIC TRACTION.`

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 666,258, dated January 22, 1901.

Application filed August 2l, 1900. Serial No. 27,599. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT BROWN, a Subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of Broad Street Metal Works, l5 Broad street, in the city of Birmingham, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Electric Traction, (for which I have filed an application in Great Britain, No. 1,407, bearing date January 23, 1900,) of which the following is a specication.

This invention consists of improvements relating to elect-ric traction, and especially to that system in which the current passes from the main conductor or conduit beneath the road to the car-motor.

'lhe object of my invention is to provide simple and more reliable means for effecting the automatic electrical connection and disconnection of the several contact-pieces with the motor as the car moves along the rails or track with a minimum interference with the street and at small cost.

On the accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings, (two in num ber,) to be hereinafter referred to, Figure l is a sectional side elevation representing portions of the underframe of an electric car and of the track on which it runs, having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 represents a crosssection of the track. Fig. 3 is a similar View to Fig. l, butwith the rar arranged to collect the current from studs disposed along the center of the track. Fig. 4 represents a cross-section of the track, showing` one of the central collecting-studs.

The same reference-letters in the different views indicate the same parts.

In carrying my invention into effect I arrange at the required pitch or distances along the conduit contact-pieces which each consist, preferably, of a pulley, as A, mounted upon a lever B. The said contact-pieces are normally out of contact with the main conductor, as hereinafter described, and with each I employ a suitable switch and place the complete device in a box, as D, of larger capacity and section than the conduit E. The switch is preferably formed by providing the lever B with a central arm, as b, which can be placed in contact with or Withdrawn from a terminal c of the main conductor C in the manner hereinafter described.

Beneath each car, as F, I arrange a pair of arms or brackets, as G G', one at each end of the car, which project through the narrow slot in the track and into the channel or conduit E beneath. To the inner extremities of such arms or projections I attach the respective ends of a wire rope or other flexible medium H, hanging between the arms G G and arranged to pass over the contact-pieces, such as the aforesaid pulley A, as the car travels along the track. The said wire rope or other flexible medium H, hanging between the car projections, is of sufficient Weight to depress one end of the lever B, on which the pulley A is mounted, and so operate the switch (by pressing the central arm b into contact With the terminal c) as to electrically connect the contact-piece (formed by the said pulley A) with the main conductor C. As the rope leaves the pulley A, mounted on the leverB, the latter is overbalanced or returned to its normal position by a weight or by a spring, as J, and the switch thus disconnects the main conductor and the contact-piece.

The pulley or other contact-pieces are arranged or disposed at such a distance apart that before the disconnection of one switch a connection of the switch next in advance shall have been effected b v the suspended rope or flexible medium moving with the car.

If studs in the middle of the track are used, (such as the stud K at Figs. 3 and 4,) the current is collected from such studs by brushes or a long strip or skate, as L, carried beneath the car and conveyed to the motor in any ordinary manner. The current passes direct from each switch to the adjacent stud when the switch is closed or put into circuit in the manner hereinbefore described.

Where the lever and pulley in the'channel are used to operate the switch by the Weight upon it. of the rope or flexible device carried by the car in the slot and the lever and pulley are electrified or put into circuit and used to collect from, as in the manner hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2,

then the rope or flexible medium collects the current from the lever or pulley, and it is passed from thence to the motors in the usual way.

I preferably make the shallow channel or conduit E from a combination, with one of IOO the ordinary track-rails, as M, of an outer rail or bar N, and thus the conduit is not deeper than the ordinary rail for the greater part of its length. The cast boxes D, of the necessary capacity, are arranged at the required intervals.

The enlarged box or chamber D gives facilities for electric insulation and attention through the roadway for repairs or renewals. The conduit is thus made up of boxes of castiron or of cemented or concreted chambers connected with the main drainage to get rid of rainfall and connected from chamber to chamber by a small shallow slot or conduit E for the rope or flexible medium to pass through.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secu re by Letters Patent, is-

l. In electric traction, the combination with a flexible medium H hanging loosely between a pair of arms G G' depending from the car, of a conduit E, box D, a three-armed lever B mounted within the said box, a pulley A rotatable upon one arm ofthe said lever, a spring J connected with the opposite arm, and a contact c fixed adjacent to the outer end of the central leverarrn b, the said contact being in constant electrical connection With the main conductor C, substantially as described.

2. In electric traction, the combination with a exible medium H hanging loosely between a pair of arms G G' depending from the car, of a conduit E, box D, a three-armed lever B mounted within the said box, a pulley A rotatable upon one arm of the said lever, a springr J connected with the opposite arm, a contact o fixed adjacent to the outer end of the central lever-arm band in constantelectrical connection with the main conductor C, collecting-stud K, and skate L, substantially as described. f

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set m hand in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT BROWN. Witnesses:

EDWARD MARKS, HARRY DAVIS. 

